Paperboard bottle carrier with reinforced partitions



Feb. 2, 1965 N. A. PETTER 3,163,211

PAPERBOARD BOTTLE CARRIER WITH REINFORCED PARTITIONS Filed March 20, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 30 INVENTOR.

3 N05; 4 ETTE/Q N. A. PETTER Feb. 2, 1965 PAPERBOARD BOTTLE CARRIER WITH REINFORCED PARTITIONS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1962 INVENTOR. A/aa. 4 Firm-e 'azww a Feb. 2, 1965 N. A. PETTER 3,163,211

PAPERBOARD BOTTLE CARRIER WITH REINFORCED PARTITIONS Filed March 20, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. M054 ,4 5 rn-ze United States Patent Ofiice 3,158,21 l Patented Feb. 2, 1965 3,168,211 PAPERBOARI) BOTTLE CARRIER WITH REINFQRCED PARTITIUNS Noel A. Patter, Glendale, Califi, assignor to Standard Paper Box Qorporation, Les Angeies, Califi, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 181,124 4- Ciaims. (Cl. 22tl113) This invention relates generally to foldable paperboard carriers for bottles or other fragile articles, most familiar in a form providing two adjacent rows of three bottlereceiving cells each, the rows being separated by a central longitudinal partition which is slotted in its upper portion to provide a handle.

Such bottle carriers typically have, in addition to the central partition, outer side walls parallel to the central partition, a bottom wall, and end walls and transverse partitions which cooperate with the central partition to form the bottle-receiving cells. The bottle carrier or carton is commonly made from a precut and scored blank by certain folding and gluing manipulations carried out by automatic machinery, and is originally supplied in a fiat-folded condition convenient for storage, and for shipment to the user. At the time of use, the carrier is erected from its flat-folded condition, so as to assume its final shape, in condition to receive the bottles. Many styles of bottle carriers have been devised in the past, all conforming in a general way to the above. Automatic machinery for carrying out desired cutting, scoring, gluing and folding operations is common in the art, and is within the province of the skilled designer.

Railroad regulations require that bottles in shipment be separated by a thickness of material at least equal to .028 inch. This means that the central longitudinal and transverse partitions must have thicknesses at least equal to .028 inch; and since the entirety of the carrier, including the partitions, is folded from a single blank of paperboard stock, the natural procedure is to make the blank, and, therefore, the entire carrier, from .028 inch paperboard stock. Stock of such thickness, however, is quite heavy, much more so than would be necessary if it were not for the requirement of a thickness of .028 inch in the partitions. In fact, the heaviness of paperboard of the thickness mentioned is such that the cost of the cartons becomes too high for economic feasibility. The cost of the raw material is high, extra storage space is required, heavier than otherwise necessary machinery is required, and shipping costs are also excessive. Because of the large volume of business done in such cartons, a huge economic loss results from making the carriers from .028 inch stock merely to provide required thickness in the separating partitions.

An object of the invention is, accordingly, the provision of a bottle carrier of the general character described which may be constructed of a blank, preferably one piece, of relatively thin paperboard, say in the range of .014 to .020 inch, i.e., often of just sufiicient thickness and strength to carry the filled bottles without tearing, but which has increased thickness, e.g., .028 inch, in the bottle-separating partitions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a blank for a bottle carrier which, in the process of converting the blank to a carrier, automatically supplies a thickening pad to each transverse partition of the carrier.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a blank for a bottle carrier, which, in the course of erection, results in pontions of material being removed from the initial blank and transferred to proper positions on the several transverse partitions for the purpose of thickening of the latter at the points between bottles.

A still further object of the invention is to carry out the foregoing purposes through minor modifications of existing bottle carriers, so that existing box making machines, by slight and easy mOdifications, such as are well within the skill of the art, can be used in the practice of the invention.

In accordance with one presently preferred practice of the invention, the blank, which may otherwise be conventional, is provided with tear-away portions outlined by perforations, or preweakened tear lines, so that they may readily be torn or severed from the remainder of the blank. These tear-away portions are so located that, in the normal folding of the blank into the flat-folded condition of the carrier, they become pressed against areas of the blank which will subsequently become transverse partitions of the final carrier. Glue is provided, such that these portions of the blank will become glued to the portions of the blank destined to become transverse bottleseparating partitions. The perforation-outlined portions are so located, and the method of folding and erection is such, that said portions, in the course of folding and erection, become torn along their lines of perforations from their initial positions in the blank as the transverse partitions to which they are glued are folded out to the final positions of the latter in the carton, and thus finally become disposed in face-to-face adhesion to the transverse partitions of the erected car-ton, where they double the thickness of material between adjacent bottle-receiving cells of each row.

One illustrated embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, reference for this purpose being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the blank of FIG. 1, showing an intermediate position in the construction of the carton or carrier from the blank;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are further perspective views showing further successive stages in the construction of the carton;

FIG. 6 is aview of the reverse side of the flat-folded carton as seen in FIG. 5, with a portion of the handle severed from side and end walls of the carton;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the carton shown in a partially erected position;

FIG. 8 is a perspective viewof the fully erected carton;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal section taken in accordance with the section line 9- -9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a section taken in accordance with line Iii-16 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a detailed section taken in accordance with line 1111 of FIG. 8.

In FIG. 1, there is shown generally at 10 a blank from which a bottle carrier in accordance with the invention may be folded and erected by a process in accordance with the invention. This blank may be made from relatively thin stock, e.g., in the range from .014 inch to .020 inch.

Blank .10 includes .a bottom 11, comprised of two bottom panels 12 and 13 separated by a score or hinge line 14. Side Walls 15 and 16 are attached to bottom panels 12 and 13 along score lines 17 and 18, respectively.

Attached to corresponding ends of side walls 15 and 16, along score lines 19 and 20 (which are at right angles to score lines 17 and 18) are end walls 21 and 22, respectively.

Attached to the opposite ends of side walls 15 and 16, along score lines 23 and 24, parallel to score lines 19 and 28, are opposite end walls 25 and 26, respectively, these being similarly shaped to end walls 21 and 22.

End walls 21, 22, 25 and 26 have edge-defining score lines 27, 28, 29 and 30, respectively, parallel to the score 3 v.) lines 19, 20, 23 and 24, and have linear bottom edges 31', 32, 33 and 34, respectively, of which edges 31 and 33 are extensions of score line 17, and edges 32 and 34 are extensions of score line 18. End walls 21, 22, and 26 also have upper edges 35, 36, 37 and 38, respectively, of which edges 35 and 37 are opposite extensions of the top edge 39 of side wall 15, and edges 36 and 38 are opposite extensions of the top edge 40 of side wall l'.

End walls 21 and 22 have hingedly connected thereto, along their respective score lii1es'27 arid 28, a pair of end wall attachment tabs 41 and 42, respectively, which are rectangular and vertically elongated aboveout'wardly projecting bottom portions 41a an'd 42a, respectively. These bottom portionsinclude conventional hook formations 43 adapted to engage in a V 11Ot'Chi44 formed centrally in one end of bottom panel 11 when the carton has beenerected, in'afamiliar manner. Bottom portions 41a and 42a of tabs 41 and 42* also project beyond the outside vertical line of said tabsto form each with a step 45, anddetachably connected to suchsteps 45', and to the outside'vertical lines of tabs 41 and 42,- for a portion of the height of the latter, are rectangular reinforcement pads 47' and 48; The pads 47 and 48 are separated from tabs'41 and 42 by tear lines, or lines of perforations 47! and 48f, respectively, preferably slits connected by short portions of material, known in the art as nicks, from the fact that such interrupted slitting is performed with knives having spaced nicks.

For convenience, I will hereinafter refer to the described preferred form of these tear lines asnick cut, though it wine-e understood that any" other manner of producing the perforations, or tear lines, may be substitutedat will.

Hinge'dly' connected'to the opposite end walls 25 and 26, along their respective score lines 29' and 30, are the adjacent edges of'central, longitudinal partition wall form ing member's 50'and 51, respectively, and which function also to furnish portions of the handle for the carton. For this purpose, the upper oroute'r portions of said partition wall members 50" and 51' are formed with handle slots 7 50a and 51a, respectively, which are adapted to register with one another when the blank has been folded'to the a position of FIG. 3, and'isthen folded on score line 14.

Detachably connected'to side wall l5 and end wall 25, along edges 39 and 37 of said Walls, by nick-cut tear lines 39t and 371; respectively, is ahandle-forrning member 54", providedwith a'longitudinal'score line 55 dividing it medially into two panels 54a'and 545, panel 54b being connected at one end to longitudinal panel 50 along a'short score line 56, which'is an extension of score line 29. The other end of this'han'dle-forming member begins at'a point 57 which is located a distance from score line 19 equal to the width of end wall 21 between score lines 19' and 27. Panel 54b is provided with a handle slot 58 adapted to register with handle slot 50a when partition 50 is folded over on score line 29, and with'a handle notch 59 adapted to register with slot 58 when the handle-forming member 54 is doubled on its fold or score line 55.

Longitudinal partitions 50'and 51 are each"nick cut along generally longitudinal lines 66 and 61, and scored along vertical lines 62 which'join the ends of lines 60 and 61, to form flaps providing transverse partitions 63, foldable from the partitions 50'and 51 about the score lines 62. The distance from'each scoreline 62 to the near edge of the'near end wall, 25 or 26 as the case may be, is equal to'the width of such end wall. Connected to partitions 5t) and 51', along'vertical score lines 64, and severed from the handle portions of saidparti tions by cuts 65, are additional flaps forming transverse partitions 66, which are foldable from partitions 50 and 51 aboutvertical score lines 64. The cuts 60and 61 extend across score line's 64and are joined by a vertical nick cut- 66a to form each flap or partition 63 with an attachment tab 67, this tab being taken, as will be seen,

of score lines 64 which extend across the partitions 63 to form tabs 67 are designated at 64a. The flaps or partitions 66 are formed with similar attachment tabs 68, separated. from the partitions by score lines 69. The score lines 64 and 69 are located so that when the partitions 56 and 51 are folded over on the score lines 29 and 30, respectively, the score lines 64 and 69 divide the side walls 15 and 16 into three equal parts. The width of each such part is equal to the width of end walls 21, 22, 25 and 26. The parts are so dimensioned that when longitudinal partition Wall 50 is folded on score line 29 (FIG. 2), score line 62 falls on score line 23, and score line 69 aligns with the beginning point 57 of handle member 54; and when end wall 21 is then folded over on score line '19, score line 27 will fall on score line 69 (FIG. 3), and attachment tab 41 will overlie transverse partition 66 adjacent to and inwardly of score line 69, and its upper portion, above said partition, will abut the edge 5% of the upper end portion of longitudinal partition 50, and will overlie the theretofore exposed end portion of handle-forming panel 54b (FIGS. 2 and 3).

Corresponding relationships are provided in partition 51, side wall 21, and end wall 22.

An auxiliary longitudinal partition-forming panel or fiap is hingedly attached to partition panel 51 along score line 76, between score line 64 and a point 77 which is spaced from score line 30 by a distance equal to the width of an attachment tab, such as tab 41 or 42.

The panel 75 extends beyond score line 64 to an end edge 78 which is aligned with score line 69; and a corner is removed from the panel 75, as at 79. Attached to the opposite end edge of panel 75, along vertical score line 8!), is' a flap or wall 81, which terminates at a vertical perforation or tear line 82, preferably of the nick-cut type mentioned earlier, and beyondline 82 is a vertically elongated reinforcement pad 83, the outside edge 84 of which abuts, and is severed from, the adjacent ends of bottom panels 12 and 13.

Panel 75 also contains a vertically elongated reinforcement pad 85, defined by tear' or perforationlines, preferably of the nick cut type. Pad 85 has two parallel nick-cut vertical defining edges 86 and 87; and these are so placed that when wall' 81 is folded over on panel 75, about score line (FIGS. 3 and 4), the tear line 82 falls on'tear line 87, with the two pads 83 and lying on opposite sides of line 87.

The blank as thus described affords four reinforcement pads 47, 48, 83 and 85; and in the course of first folding and gluing of the carton, these are glued to and across mid portions of the transverse partitions 63 and 66. Later, when the carton is erected, these pads rotate outwardly with the transverse partitions, being automatically torn from their original positions in the blank, and staying on the partitions, to which they are glued, where they function to contribute added thickness of material between bottles in the carrier carton.

Glue is applied to the blank in various areas, as indicated by the stippling in the drawings. These areas include the upper faces, as seen in FIG. 1, of reinforcement pads 47 and 48, partition tabs 67 and 68, outer handle member 54b, an area 88 at the outer end of panel 75, an area 89 along the longitudinal edge of said panel, an area 99 at the upper or outside ends of tab 41, and an area 91 along the upper margin of partition 50. Glued areas on the reverse face of the blank are seen in FIG. 2, and include attachment tab 42, reinforcing pad 85, reinforcing pad 83, an area 92 on Wall 81 adjacent score line 80, and an area 93 on longitudinal partition 51 extending throughout the handle area there of and alongside the score line 30. Of course, the application of the glue may be reversed from the arrangement shown, as will be readily understood, the part here shown as havingglue applied thereto being left clean,

and the part to which it is to be glued having the glue coating.

The carton is constructed from the blank as follows:

Viewing the blank as seen in FIG. 1, the longitudinal partitions 50 and 51 are first folded over on the score lines 29 and 3t} and pressed down, so that the tabs 67 and 68 become glued to the outer side walls and 16, as shown in FIG. 2.

End walls 21 and 22 are then folded over on score lines 19 and (FIGS. 2 and 3) and pressed down, causing reinforcing pads 47 and 48 to be glued transversely across the mid sections of transverse partitions 66 contained in longitudinal partition walls 5%) and 51. After this, panel 75 is bent downwardly on score line 76 (FIG. 3) and pressed flat against longitudinal partition wall 51 and the transverse .partition 63 contained in the latter. It will be seen that in this process, the pad 85 will become glued to and across the mid section of the transverse partition 63 in wall 51. FIG. 2 shows, in shade lines at 85a, the area of partition 63 to which the pad 85 will be glued. FIG. 3 shows the panel 75 not quite down, and FIG. 4 shows it fiat down on Wall 51. Wall 31 is then folded over on score line 88 (FIGS. 3 and 4); and pad 85 then lies immediately adjacent pad 85, their edge lines 82 and S7 coinciding.

The blank is then folded on score line 14 (FIG. 4), and the two halves pressed together, causing the reinforcement pad 33 to become glued transversely across the mid section of transverse. partition 63, in the shaded area indicated at 63a in FIG. 4. At the same time, attachment tabs 41 and 42 become glued to one another and to opposite surfaces of the intervening end portion or I area 88 of panel 75. Also, the glue-coated area 92 of wall 81 becomes glued to longitudinal partition outside score line 62, the area 89 of panel 75 becomes glued to partition 59 between handle slot 50a and partition cut and the glue-coated area 93 of longitudinal partition wall 51 becomes glued to the corresponding area of longitudinal partition wall 50. The longitudinal partition walls 50 and 51 and the intervening walls 75 and 81 are thus glued in a flat assembly L, with the handle slots Stla, 51a and 58 in register.

Handle member 54b is then folded over and glued to the outer or handle-forming portion of partition wall 51 and to the upper end portion of attachment tab 42 (FIG. 5

The carton is now completely glued, and is in a compact,.flat-folded condition, convenient for storage and shipment.

To erect the carton, the handle panel 541; (see FIG. 6) is first torn free, along tear lines 37f and 39Lv from side wall 15. The carton can then be erected by making certain bends or folds on certain score lines. Thus, pressure can be exerted on the two ends of the flat-folded assembly, as indicated by the arrows p in FIG. 7, pushing it toward and through that position to the final position of FIG. 8. the four corner score lines 19, 2E 23 and 24, with simultaneous translation of the central or longitudinal partition assembly L longitudinally of the carton, and corresponding spreading apart of the two sides 15 and 16, as well as swinging out of the end walls 21 and 22, and 25 and 26. End Walls 21 and 22 bend on corner score lines 19 and 20, and also on score lines 27 and 23, re spectively; and end walls 25 and 26 bend on corner score lines 23 and 24, and also on score lines 29 and 30, respectively. At the same time, the bottom panels 12 and 13 must be bent under and up, on score lines 17 and 18, and the transverse partitions 63 and 66 must be torn free and pushed inward from longitudinal partitions walls 50 and 51, and bent'on score lines 62 and 64. Since the end or attachment tabs 67 and 68 of the partitions-63 and 66 are gluedto the side walls 15 and 16, the partitions must also at this time be bent on the In this action, bends occur at tab score lines 64a and 69. The act of so bending out the transverse partitions 63 and 56 tears loose the four detachable reinforcement pads 47, 48, 83 and 85, which have, in the fiat-folded condition of the carton, been located in the central longitudinal plane of the carton, and these pads swing or rotate out with the transverse partitions to occupy positions between adjacent cells of the carton. Thus, in the flat-folded condition of the carton, these pads 4'7 and 43 are detachably connected to the tabs 41 and 42, respectively, which form a part of the longitudinal partition assembly; and these pads 47 and 43, having been glued to the partitions 66, are torn free from the tabs 41 and 42 and swing out with the partitions 66 when the latter are swung outward in the erection of the carton. In a generally similar manner, the pads 85 and 83, de.achably connected to the walls and 81, respectively, of the longitudinal partition assembly; but glued to the partitions 63, are torn free and swung out with the partitions 63 in the erection of the carton.

Hcving pushed and bent the carton through the position of FIG. 7 to or slightly beyond the position of FIG. 8, engagement may be made between hook 43 and notch 44 to complete the erection of the carton.

The erected carton affords six cells for bottles, in two rows of three each, the cells being identified in FIG. 9 by the reference characters, a, b, c, d, e, and 1.

Inspection of FIG. 9 will reveal that the reinforcement pads 47, 48, 83 and provide a double thickness of paperboard between bottles placed in adjacent cells a and b, b and c, d and e, and e and ,1 Between cells 0 and f are four thicknesses of stock in the longitudinal partition, as will appear. Between cells b and e are the two walls 50 and 51, as well as the wall 81 which overlaps portions of wall 75 (FIGS. 9 and 10). Finally between the two cells a and d is the wall 75, overlapped on opposite sides by portions of the walls 51, as will be clear from FIG. 8, it being understood that the portion of wall 51 seen in FIG. 8 as defining an upper portion of cell d is backed up by wall 75 and then, on the opposite side of wall 75, by a similar portion of wall 50 which correspondingly defines the upper portion of cell a.

The disclosed carton meets all railroad shipment regulations, even though constructed oflighter material than required for separation of adjacent bottles. The reinforcement of the separating partitions occurs automatically in the construction and erection of the box, and requires no added manual labor.

The invention has been disclosed in a present illustrative embodiment, but it will appear that the broad invention may be practiced in various different ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a paperboard carrier for bottles and the like, of the type including two parallel side walls, a central longitudinal partition between and parallel to said side walls, four end Walls hinged to the ends of the side walls and to the corresponding ends of the longitudinal partition, said longitudinal partition being comprised of a plurality of longitudinally disposed partition-forming walls fastened in a fiat assembly, and a plurality of transverse partitions on each side of said longitudinal partition, each comprising a flap formed from and hinged to the adjacent outermost longitudinally disposed partition-forming wall, and having a hinged tab at the end thereof fastened to the adjacent side wall, all in such manner that said carrier can assume, and be erected from, a fiat-folded condition, wherein said side walls are adjacent said longitudinal partition, with the end walls at one end of the carrier bent inward inside said side walls and lying subtially the plane of said longitudinal partition, said carrier being of the type constructed from paperboard blank means cut, scored, folded and glued into said flat-folded form and erectable therefrom by bending said end Walls and transverse partitions outwardly into positions at right angles to said longitudinal partition While translating said longitudinal partition longitudinally relative to said side walls, the improvement comprising: transverse partition-reinforcing pads formed as original parts of said blank means with tear lines therealong and positioned therein for severance and displacement into new positions in said blank means, in surface contact with said transverse partitions, in the course of construction of said carrier from said blank means, said pads being adapted for gluing to said transverse partitions in said surface contact. I W

. 2. In a paperboard carrier for bottles and the like, of the type including two parallel side walls, a central longi-' tudinal partition between and parallel to said side walls, four end walls hinged to the ends of the side walls and to the correspondingrends of the longitudinal partition, said longitudinal partition being c-omprised of a plurality of longitudinally disposed partitionforming walls fastened in a flat assembly, and;a plurality of transverse partitions on each side of said longitudinal partition, each comprising a flap formed from and hinged to the adjacent outermost longitudinally disposed partition-forming wall, and having a hinged tab at the end thereof fastened to the adjacent side wall, all in such manner that said carrier can assume, and be erected from, a fiat-folded condition, wherein said side walls are adjacent said longitudinal partition, with the end walls at one end of the carrier bent inward insidesaid side walls and lying sub- 1 stantially in the plane of the longitudinal partition, with the end walls at the other, end of the carrier extending outwardly from and beyond said side walls, in substantially the plane of the latter, and with said transverse partitions disposed similarly to said end walls, in substantially the plane of said longitudinal partition, said carrier being ofthe type constructed from paperboard blank means cut, scored, folded and glued into said fiat-folded form and erectable therefrom by bending said end walls and transverse partitions outwardly into positions atright angles to said longitudinal partition while translating said longitudinal partition longitudinally relative to said side walls, the improvement comprising: transverse partition-reinforcing pads formed in' said longitudinal partition-forming walls and provided with cut lines in said last-named walls to accommodate rotational transference out of the plane of said longitudinal partition-forming walls into the planes of said transverse walls in the erected condition of the carrier, said reinforcement pads being adapted for gluing to said transverse walls.

3. In a paperboard carrier for bottles and the like, of

the type including two parallel side walls, a' central longi tudinal partition between and parallel to said side walls, four end walls hinged to the ends of the side Walls and to the corresponding ends of the longitudinal partition, said longitudinal partition being comprised of a plurality of longitudinally disposed partition-forming Walls fastened in a flat assembly, and a plurality of transverse partitions on each side of said longitudinal partition, each comprising a flap formed from and hinged to the adjacent outermost longitudinally disposed partition-forming wall, and having a hinged tab at the end thereof fastened to the adjacent side wall, all in such manner, that said carrier can assume, and be erected from, :a flat-folded condition, wherein said side walls are adjacent said longitudinal partition, with the end walls at one .end of the carrier bent inward inside said side walls and lying substantially in the plane of the longitudinal partition, with' the end walls at the other end of the carrier extending outwardly from and beyond said side walls, insubstantially the plane of the latter, and with said transverse partitions disposed similarly to said endwalls, in substantially the plane of said longitudinal partition, said carrier being of the type constructed from paperboard blank means cut, scored, folded and glued into said flat-folded form' and erectable therefrom by bending said end walls and transverse partitions outwardly into positions at right angles to said longitudinal partition while translating said longitudinal partition longitudinally relative to said side walls, the improvement comprising: intermediate wall means included in said plurality of longitudinally disposed partition-forming walls and positioned between said outermost walls; and reinforcement pads formed in said intermediate walls means and defined therein by a out line permitting easy detachment thereof, one of said pads being located adjacent and glued to a mid portion of each of said transverse partitions, said pads remaining in and connected to said intermediate wall means in the fiat-folded condition of the carrier, and being automatically torn therefrom by the transverse partitions when, in the erection of the carrier, the transverse partitions are bent outwardly .to positions at right angles to said longitudinal partition.

4. In a paperboard carrier for bottles and the like, of the type including two parallel side walls, a central longitudinal partition between and parallel to said side walls,

- four end walls hinged to the ends of the side walls and to the corresponding ends of the longitudinal partition, said longitudinal partition being comprised of a plurality of longitudinally disposed partition-forming walls fastened in a fiat assembly, and a plurality of transverse partitions on each side of said longitudinal partition, each comprising a flap formed from and hinged to the adjacent outermost longitudinally disposed partitionforming wall, and having a hinged tab at the end thereof fastened to the adjacent side wall, all in such manner that said carrier can assume, and be erected from, a flatfolded condition, wherein said side walls are adjacent said longitudinal partition, with the end walls at one end of the carrier bent inward inside said side walls and lying substantially in the plane of the longitudinal partition, with the end walls at the other end of the carrier extending outwardly from and beyond said side walls, in substantially the plane of the latter, and with said transverse partitions disposed similarly to said end walls, in substantially the plane of said longitudinal partition, said carrier being of the type constructed from paperboard blank means cut, scored, folded and glued into said fiatfolded formand erectable therefrom by bending said end walls and transverse partitions outwardly into positions atright angles to said longitudinal partition while translating said longitudinal partition longitudinally relative to said side walls, the improvement comprising: wall means included in said plurality of longitudinally disposed partition-forming walls positioned inside and between said transverse partitions in the fiat-folded condition of the carrier; and reinforcement pads formed in said wall means and defined by a out line permitting easy detachment thereof, one of said pads being located adjacent and glued to a mid portion of each of said transverse partitions, said pads remaining in and connected to said wall means in the flat-folded condition of the carrier, and being automatically torn therefrom by the transverse partitions when, in the erection of the carrier, the transverse partitions are bent outwardly to positions at right angles to said longitudinal partition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,783,692 Bolding Mar. 5, 1957 2,846,114 Ringler Aug. 5, 1958 3,037,661 Gish June 5, 1962 ,404 Arneson Nov. 6, 1962 3,084,831 Arneson Apr. 9, 1963 3,104,021 .Kulig' Sept; 17, 1963 

1. IN A PAPERBOARD CARRIER FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE, OF THE TYPE INCLUDING TWO PARALLEL SIDE WALLS, A CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL PARTITION BETWEEN AND PARALLEL TO SAID SIDE WALLS, FOUR END WALLS HINGED TO THE ENDS OF THE SIDE WALLS AND TO THE CORRESPONDING ENDS OF THE LONGITUDINAL PARTITION, SAID LONGITUDINAL PARTITION BEING COMPRISED OF A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED PARTITION-FORMING WALLS FASTENED IN A FLAT ASSEMBLY, AND A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSE PARTITIONS ON EACH SIDE OF SAID LONGITUDINAL PARTITION, EACH COMPRISING A FLAP FORMED FROM AND HINGED TO THE ADJACENT OUTERMOST LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED PARTITION-FORMING WALL, AND HAVING A HINGED TAB AT THE END THEREOF FASTENED TO THE ADJACENT SIDE WALL, ALL IN SUCH MANNER THAT SAID CARRIER CAN ASSUME, AND BE ERECTED FROM, A FLAT-FOLDED CONDITION, WHEREIN SAID SIDE WALLS ARE ADJACENT SAID LONGITUDINAL PARTITION, WITH THE END WALLS AT ONE ENE OF THE CARRIER BENT INWARD INSIDE SAID SIDE WALLS AND LYING SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE PLANE OF THE LONGITUDINAL PARTITION, WITH THE END WALLS AT THE OTHER END OF THE CARRIER EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM AND BEYOND SAID SIDE WALLS, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE PLANE OF THE LATTER, AND WITH SAID TRANSVERSE PARTITIONS DISPOSED SIMILARLY TO SAID END WALLS, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE PLANE OF SAID LONGITUDINAL PARTITION, SAID CAR- 